First stop on our trip around Devon was a village called Bridgetown in the centre of Exmoor (not the one in Jamaica!). We stayed at the Exe Valley campsite which is an excellent site spread along the banks of the river Exe (surprise!). A helpful owner, well stocked shop, good free (!) wifi and even TV cabling to every pitch – we would certainly recommend it to others (without children, it’s an adult only site). Only downsides – because of the weather the ground was muddy, we had no problem with the hardstanding pitch but the walks through the surrounding woodlands were a bit of a challenge at times! The village pub was only open at weekends but I’ll blame that on COVID.

We took a day trip to the nearby village of Dunster which claims to be the largest and most intact medieval village in England. The covered octagonal structure in the High Street is the Yarn Market – originally used for cloth trading. The village is dominated by Dunster Castle, now a National Trust property. The history of the castle starts on the 11th century. Much later in the 17th century much of the fortification was torn down by Cromwell at the end of the Civil War. In the 19th century it’s owners, the Luttrell family, spent money and effort remodelling it as an impressive Victorian estate. It’s raised position gives excellent views across the Bristol Channel to Wales.